The oldest fraternity still at work
Plainly explained, without mystery for its own sake.
Freemasonry is a fraternity that uses the tools and language of the old stone masons as a way of teaching moral lessons. The building trade is a figure of speech; the building is the man himself.
Three of those tools matter above the rest. They are called the Three Great Lights, and they sit at the centre of our own seal.
The Letter G
Geometry — the foundation of knowledge and the pursuit of truth.
The Compass
Discipline, balance, and brotherly love.
The Square
A reminder to act with integrity and moral clarity in all we do.
It began formally in London in 1717, though lodges existed well before that. It came to Kentucky with the first settlers, and there have been Masons in this Commonwealth for longer than there has been a Commonwealth.
What happens at a meeting is mostly unremarkable: minutes are read, bills are paid, a charity is discussed, someone gives a talk. Twice a year or so a man receives a degree, which is a piece of ceremonial theatre with a moral at the end of it. Then everyone goes home.
Honest answers
The questions people actually ask, answered straight.
Is it a religion?
No. Freemasonry requires a man to believe in a Supreme Being, but it does not tell him what to believe, and it never has. Our members are Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Jews and others. Religion and politics are the two subjects not discussed in lodge, precisely so that men who disagree about them can still sit together.
Is it secret?
Not really. Our building has a sign on it, our officers are listed on this site, and our meeting times are public. What we keep private are the modes of recognition and the ceremonies themselves — much as a family keeps its own traditions. Everything else about us is a matter of public record.
What does it cost?
There is a one-time fee when a man joins, and annual dues after that. The amounts are modest and comparable to a gym membership. Nobody is ever turned away over money, and no Mason is asked to give beyond his means — that is written into our law.
How much time does it take?
Two Tuesday evenings a month is the whole of it, and no one counts your attendance. Men with young children and demanding jobs come when they can. Some brothers take on more; most do not.
Do you recruit?
No, and we are not permitted to. A man must ask of his own accord — the old phrase is to be one, ask one. That is why this page invites you to dinner rather than offering you an application. We would rather you knew us first.
Can women join?
Not this lodge. Regular Freemasonry in Kentucky is a fraternity of men. There are related organisations open to women and to families — the Order of the Eastern Star among them — and we are glad to point you toward them.
Still have a question?
Ask it plainly. A Mason reads every message and answers it himself.
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